Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-10-06

fancy Of the dark eyes and the arignt-
ened color on the lovely face.
For Rita the evening was continued
triumph, but Tor one thing Ralph
never came near her.
Several times she encountered his
glance; aud something in his earnest
look moved her strangely.
There was mad wild hope ia her
heart that he would ask her 10 dance.
Foolish Rita! She had beeu cold
and indifferent, youchsatng itim neith-
or word nor glance if she could avoid
it; and now that he in his turn heid
aloof, she was miserable.
The lights and music jarred on her
excited nerves, and she longed to be
aiu.o.
After several unsuccessful attempts,
she finally escaped to the conservatory,
unnoticed and unattended.
She had not been there many min
utes when she was aroused by taesouud
Of voices near her.
"What foolish manw Rita heard o
strange voice say. ''You have every
thing to make you happy, and Set you
declare you are wretched.
II have not the thing ! most desire, "
answered a voice that made Rita SHRINK
further behind the large plants that
screened her.
Not for the world would she have
Ralph Chesney find her there.
And what is that?'
The love Of the woman ! adore,
said Ralph unsteadily.
"Old man, | am sorry for you i
| did not know. Is lt'-hes.atugly-
'isit Rita CampbeIl?"
Eyes, admitted Ralph slowly; and
| they moved on.
Rita was too stunned TO move. even
| when their voices had died away.
a tremor shook her frame; the slow
tears gathered beneath her lashes and
| began 10 fall one by one.
Does he love me?' sac cried, try
ing to believe in her happiness.
! And so absorbed was she that she
Gid not hear the sound Of approaching
| footsteps
A startled exclamation reused her,
| and looking up, she found Ralph stand
ing beside her.
They were both terribly agitated, but
| after a moments silence, Ralph said
very gently:
Miss Campbell, YOU have learned
| in the last few minutes what / intend
ed YOU should never know. i have ale
ways laughed Mt the idea Of love at
first sight, but the first time ] saw You
my heart went from me. How my love
grew as the days went by it would be
impossible to tell you, but the hope of
] r,.,- 1i g., eroe % Do r+1f, IN, IL tt-ffts y
He paused for q moment, perhaps
to steady his voice
But tho more | showed my love,
the colder YOU grew, and You Will
never know the agony / endured when
| found your heart shut against n.e; but
l determined not to pain you with an
avowal Of my love, and should have
held to my resolve if accident had not
revealed my secret to yon.'
| Not ono word crossed the beautiful
lips when he finished
Fearing he had annoyed her beyond
all forgiveness, Ralph started away
but, as though She OWNED hi
thoughts, Rita rose to her feet
AS She raised her eyes to ms face
something in their lovely depths CAV,
Ralph touch of rapture he had nevel
known before.
Rita, he cried in low impassioneC
tone. "can it be true that You love me
lat last?'
She made no verbal answer, bu
turned to him q face full of happiness
and content In another moment sh'
was in his arms.
"Rita. bending his face to hers
SAY love you.
Il love your she whispered back.
"My own. my wife" he answered
| with his lips to hers.
a moment later he knew, with ;
thrill OF rapture, his kiss had been re
turned.